Mark 10:32-52, The Ruler Who Came to Serve
Introduction:
We have now come to the final days of Jesus in our study of the book of Mark. The last location of Jesus and His disciples was in the land of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River (10:1). In verse 32, Jesus and His disciples are on the road and they are going up to Jerusalem , with Jesus leading the way. Immediately we are told two emotions that the disciples are experiencing at this point.
First, the disciples are amazed. Why are the disciples amazed? The disciples are amazed that Jesus is leading them to Jerusalem . They are going into the heart of the enemy, a place where Jewish leaders had been plotting to kill Jesus. Because it had not been Jesus’ time yet, Jesus and His disciples had been ministering in Galilee and the surrounding regions. But now they are going to Jerusalem , and there is amazement on the part of the disciples that this is their destination.
We also read that the disciples are afraid. This would be very logical and rational for the disciples to feel. Knowing the situation in Jerusalem and the reception they will receive from the Jewish leaders, they know that their lives are in danger. In John 11:8 the disciples have argued with Jesus not to go to Jerusalem because the Jews had sought to stone Him. Jesus takes the twelve aside and again explains to them the things that are going to happen. Jesus tells them that He is going to be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, be condemned to death and delivered to the Gentiles. Now Jesus describes that there will be Roman involvement in His death. In every instance in the book of Mark, when Jesus foretold His death, Jesus added another detail about what would happen. Now Jesus points out that the Romans will have a hand in the events that will transpire against Him.
Jesus further describes that He is going to be mocked, scourged, spit on, and killed. But on the third day, Jesus will rise again. These are amazing claims that are made by Jesus. If these things were to happen, there would have to be no doubt that Jesus is truly the Son of God. If anyone claims to be able to die and be resurrected again to physical life and it happens, that person is God. He is God not only by being able to be raised from the dead to live again, but also because he is able to predict its occurrence, requiring supernatural foreknowledge. Jesus lays His claims on the line. If what He said did not happen, He would easily be discredited and rejected as a fraud. It is clear from this scene that Jesus’ mind is on the cross. The disciples were rightly amazed and afraid because it did mean that the Jews were going to arrest Him and have Him killed. Jesus has just affirmed their amazement and fears. This will be the final chapter as they are on the road to Jerusalem .
Mark 10:35-40
Request of James and John
With this focus on the cross in mind, James and John have come to Jesus and have something they want to ask Him. They say, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” This reminds me of the way children will sometimes ask for something. Before asking their question, sometimes they will say, will you say yes to what I am going to ask you? I believe this is essentially what James and John are saying. “We are going to ask you something and we want you to say yes, so say that you will give us whatever we ask.” Usually when asked in this way, we know that we are going to be roped into something. Jesus responds in verse 36, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Thus, James and John proceed with their request. “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” This is a request for preeminence, power, and honor. To sit at the right hand is to be given great authority and rule. To sit at the left hand would be next place of prominence after the one sitting on the right hand. High officials and dignitaries were on each hand of worldly kings. This is the request of James and John.
It is not entirely out of place concerning this request. In Matthew 19:28 we find that Jesus had told His apostles that when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, they would sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel . This seems to be the frame of the request, for James and John say, “in Your glory.” When Jesus returns in glory and we receive our thrones, let us be at your right and left hand. However, what is out of place is the timing of the request. Jesus has explained what is about to happen to Him as they are on the way to Jerusalem . Jesus’ focus is on the cross. James and John have their focus, not upon the cross, but upon honor and preeminence. But Jesus is going to move their focus to the cross.
Jesus responds, “You do not know what you ask.” Jesus says that they do not really know the meaning of what they are asking for. Jesus asks James and John if they can drink the cup He drinks and be baptized with the baptism that He is baptized with. Jesus says that to be honored by God and to be a follower of God means that you must suffer with Christ. To drink the cup that I drink is a figure of speech in those days which meant to experience what that person experienced, whether favorable or unfavorable. To be baptized in the same baptism is also figurative language meaning to be overwhelmed and immersed in the same agony and peril that Jesus would go through. To this, James and John say that they can. Did James and John fully understand what was going to happen to them? Did they fully realize what they were going to experience to be a follower of Christ? Probably not. They probably did not fully understand the overwhelming flood of turmoil and agony that they would experience as disciples of Christ.
To follow Jesus is to suffer
Suffering of Christ. Suffering is always involved in Jesus’ call to His disciples. Jesus has already described the suffering that He would endure. Jesus would go to Jerusalem and He would be arrested, mocked, scourged, spit upon, and killed.
Suffering of James and John. James and John say that they are ready to endure suffering for the cause of Christ. Suffering is what would happen to these two men for their faith in Christ. In Acts 12:2, James is killed by the sword by Herod. In verse 39 of Mark 10, Jesus declared that these two would drink the cup that Jesus drank and be baptized with the same baptism. James was the first of these two to endure to the death. John also endured great suffering. In Revelation 1:9 we read that John had been exiled to the island of Patmos for the cause of Christ. We are not exactly sure how John died. Some legend records that he died of old age, other legend says that he died a violent death in boiling oil. Either way, these men would drink from the cup as servants of Christ.
Suffering for all disciples. To be a follower of Christ, does not our Lord ask us these same questions: can we drink the cup He drank and be baptized with the same baptism He was baptized with? Acts 14:22 , “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God .” Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39 ; 16:25 ) To follow Jesus is to accept that suffering will come for His cause and for the cause of the gospel.
Is it not rather interesting that under the new covenant these elements are actions that we are to participate in? Every first day of the week we come together to remember the suffering sacrifice and redemption through the blood of Christ. Is it not interesting that we are commanded to drink from the cup? By partaking of the Lord’s supper are we not only remembering His death but also proclaiming the Lord’s death till He comes? (1 Corinthians 11:26) We are saying that we are willing to suffer with Him to proclaim the good news. Is it not interesting that to come into a relationship with Christ and have sins forgiven demands that every person be baptized in water for forgiveness of sins? In Romans 6:3-4 Paul tells us that when we are baptized we are baptized into His death. Are we not also declaring in our submission to baptism that we are willing to suffer as Christ suffered in death to walk in newness of life? The call to discipleship is not a call of ease but it is a call to suffer for His sake. Thus, we must count the cost to be a follower of Him. Are we willing to suffer loss for Him? That is the demand of our Lord. Are we willing to endure the same things He endured? We must suffer for His sake to be glorified by God.
Mark 10:41-45
Disciples’ reaction
In verse 41 we are told the reaction of the other disciples. When the ten heard about what they had asked, they were greatly displeased with James and John. This is the same reaction (and same Greek word) that Jesus had used earlier in Mark 10:14 where Jesus was indignant that the disciples rebuked those who brought the little children to Him. Now, the disciples are indignant that these two had made such a request. It seems, however, that the disciples were not indignant because they were thinking about Jesus and how this was no time to be concerned with such matters--when the death of Jesus was approaching. If this had been the case, I do not know that Jesus would have needed further teaching on the matter. It seems much more likely that though James and John had made this request, this is what the other ten had wanted for themselves. They had wanted the position of preeminence and honor, and now James and John had come up to Jesus and requested it. It seems the ten had been beaten to the punch, if you will.
Ruling is not authoritarian
Jesus calls the other ten to Him and begins to teach them more things concerning what it means to be a follower of Jesus. In verse 42 Jesus notes the way that the nations rule. They take their power and lord it over those who are in subjection to them. In the world there is the hierarchy of power. Those at the top have the authority to tell others what to do. And this is how they use their authority. They do not do things for others, but everyone does things for them. Jesus says that should not be among you. This is not how authority works in the kingdom of God . How often that point is missed. How is it that there are many Christians who believe that they have a position of power to tell others what to do? From elders, deacons, preachers, teachers, and those given charge over various things in the functioning of the local church, some people think that authority means they are going to lord it over them by bullying others into doing things their way. Jesus says, “Yet it should not be so among you.”
Ruling is by service
In verse 43 Jesus states how one is glorified and honored by God. “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” Those who want to become great will actually become servants of all. The self-seekers will miss out on the glory and honor of the Lord. James said it this way in James 4:10 , “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Actions and decisions that are made from a self-serving heart are condemned by God. This is somewhat difficult to get used to since the world marches to the beat of a different drummer. But self-advancement is not tolerated by God. We are actually putting ourselves in a position that we are trying to avoid when we are self-promoting. God is saying that we are counter-productive.
Jesus ruled by serving
Instead, the ruling is performed by serving in the kingdom of God . Proof of this truth is found in verse 45. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” The wording of this verse is simply perfect. “Even the Son of Man” is the phrase used to show that if anyone could come to be served, it would be Jesus. If anyone had authority and had the right to have people serve Him, Jesus was the man. But not even Jesus came to be served. Rather, Jesus showed His authority by serving others. He exemplified how God would have His people rule, and that is by serving others and not being self-serving. This is so important for all Christians to understand. Everyone is called to serve and not to be served. Too often we think people ought to be doing such and such for us. We think selfishly. We are supposed to be thinking about what we can do for others and not for ourselves. Elders rule through service. Deacons lead through service. Preachers lead through service. Leaders lead through service. Christians are to serve and there is no power and authority that one could lord it over. We rule and have authority through serving one another. We serve by being teachers, by helping the sick, caring for the downtrodden, seeking out the best interests of others, and never thinking about self. How easily we miss this, yet this is the example of Christ.
We would be remiss to not point out that Jesus came to serve and also to give His life as a ransom for many. To ransom is to pay a price to redeem captives or slaves. Jesus’ death paid the price set by God to redeem everyone from sin and death who would follow after Him. We have been purchased by God and are His chosen possession and His chosen people. But to follow Jesus we must be ready to suffer and ready to serve.
Conclusion:
Imagine if you could ask Jesus to do anything for you. What would be your request of Jesus? In verse 51 Jesus says the same words to the blind man as He does to James and John: “What do you want Me to do for you?” What do you want Jesus to do for you? Is our request one that is selfish in nature, or is our request spiritual in nature? Do we come to Christ looking for personal gain? Or do we shout as the blind man did, “Have mercy on me!” Are we ready to suffer? Are we ready to serve to follow after Jesus?
